Agit-Prop Records
Encyclopedia
Agit-Prop Records was an independent record label
founded in 1985
by the members of the then-peace punk band Chumbawamba
.
using the Sky and Trees
label. As well as releasing their own recordings, Agit-Prop also put out a number of records by other groups.
Agit-Prop was run in co-op form adhering to anarchist
philosophy.
Agit-Prop released its last album, Shhh
, in 1992. Chumbawamba felt it was too much work to maintain a band and a label. Band member Alice Nutter adds:
The label was disbanded, and Chumbawamba signed onto One Little Indian Records
.
At some period during the nineties, the unreleasable "Jesus H. Christ" album (from which "Shhh" was born) was bootlegged and distributed with the fake label "Tragic Flop". It bore the serial code: TRAGIC-FLOP001"
's Department for Agitation and Propaganda
.
(For full Chumbawamba discography see main Chumbawamba discography
)
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
founded in 1985
1985 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1985.-January–March:*January 1 - The newest music video channel, VH-1, debuts on American cable. It is aimed at an older demographic than its sister station, MTV...
by the members of the then-peace punk band Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba
Chumbawamba is a British musical group who have, over a career spanning nearly three decades, played punk rock, pop-influenced music, world music, and folk music...
.
History
Before starting the label in '85, Chumbawamba had distributed their records and tapesCassette culture
Cassette culture, or the cassette underground , refers to the practices surrounding amateur production and distribution of recorded music that emerged in the late 1970s via home-made audio cassettes...
using the Sky and Trees
Sky and Trees Records
Sky and Trees Records is a record label set up by United Kingdom band Chumbawamba in 1983. The band used the label to release and distribute a number of cassettes and booklets by themselves , including their early demo recordings Be Happy Despite It All , Another Year Of The same Old Shit and the...
label. As well as releasing their own recordings, Agit-Prop also put out a number of records by other groups.
Agit-Prop was run in co-op form adhering to anarchist
Anarchism
Anarchism is generally defined as the political philosophy which holds the state to be undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, or alternatively as opposing authority in the conduct of human relations...
philosophy.
Agit-Prop released its last album, Shhh
Shhh
Shhh is a 1992 album by anarchist punk band Chumbawamba. It was originally recorded and written as "Jesus H. Christ," an album that relied heavily on samples. A number of the musicians whose material had been sampled objected, and the album was largely re-worked to defend artistic intent and...
, in 1992. Chumbawamba felt it was too much work to maintain a band and a label. Band member Alice Nutter adds:
-
- We realised long ago while still running Agit-Prop that we were existing within a capitalist systemCapitalismCapitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
, and belonging to a small but pure indie ghetto wasn't going to have any effect other than making us feel holy. http://www.chumba.com/_faquestions.htm
- We realised long ago while still running Agit-Prop that we were existing within a capitalist system
The label was disbanded, and Chumbawamba signed onto One Little Indian Records
One Little Indian Records
One Little Indian Records is a London-based independent record label that rose from the ashes of punk record company Spiderleg Records. It was set up in 1985 by members of various anarchist punk bands, and managed by ex-Flux of Pink Indians Derek Birkett. The first success came with A.R. Kane and...
.
At some period during the nineties, the unreleasable "Jesus H. Christ" album (from which "Shhh" was born) was bootlegged and distributed with the fake label "Tragic Flop". It bore the serial code: TRAGIC-FLOP001"
The Name (meaning)
The term "agit prop" originates from Soviet RussiaSoviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
's Department for Agitation and Propaganda
Agitprop
Agitprop is derived from agitation and propaganda, and describes stage plays, pamphlets, motion pictures and other art forms with an explicitly political message....
.
Discography
Original UK release dates for vinyl records given. Some of the following may have been re-issued in CD format.(For full Chumbawamba discography see main Chumbawamba discography
Chumbawamba discography
-Albums:-Singles:-Compilations:-Compilation appearances:-Related releases:-Miscellaneous Cassette Only:*Raising Heck with Chumbawamba...
)
- AGIT 1 - Chumbawamba, "RevolutionRevolution (Chumbawamba song)"Revolution" is the first proper single from the band Chumbawamba on their Agit Prop Records.-Track listing:"1......HMV side, introduciton to History and where we stand. Which side of the""2......Fence side, and its application to everyday life...
" EP (1985) - AGIT 2 - Chumbawamba & A State of Mind, "We Are The World?" EP (Agit-Matter Records, 1986)
- AGIT 3 - Chumbawamba, "Smash Clause 28!/Fight the Alton Bill" Single (1988)
- AGIT 4 - Credit to the Nation, "Pay the Price" EP (1991)
- AGIT 5 - Chumbawamba, "I Never Gave Up" Single (1992)
- AGIT 666 - Chumbawamba, "BehaveBehave" Behave" is a single from Chumbawamba, different version than the song "Behave" off of their album Shhh, with full lyrics, a faster tempo and no trumpet or samples....
" Single (1992) - AGIT 8 - Papa Brittle, "Status Quo / Global intensified Nationalism" EP (1992)
- PROP 1 - Chumbawamba, Pictures of Starving Children Sell RecordsPictures of Starving Children Sell RecordsPictures of Starving Children Sell Records was the first full-length album by anarcho-punk band Chumbawamba, released in 1986 on Agit-Prop Records...
(1986) - PROP 2 - Chumbawamba, Never Mind the BallotsNever Mind the BallotsNever Mind the Ballots is an album by Anarchist punk band Chumbawamba. Most of the songs centre around lying politicians and their search for more voter control...
(1987) - PROP 3 - Chumbawamba, English Rebel Songs 1381-1914English Rebel Songs 1381-1984English Rebel Songs 1381–1984 is a 2003 studio album by anarchist punk band Chumbawamba. It was originally released in 1988 with a slightly different tracklist as English Rebel Songs 1381–1914...
(1988) - PROP 4 - Sportchestra!, 101 Songs About Sport (1988)
- PROP 5 - Bassa Bassa, Bassa Bassa (1991)
- PROP 7 - Chumbawamba, Slap!Slap!Slap! is a 1990 album by anarchist punk band Chumbawamba. It was a radical redefinition of the band's sound and attitude. The songs now inspired dancing more than moshing, and the lyrics were celebratory as opposed to victimist.-Track listing:...
(1990) - PROP 8 - Thatcher on Acid, Frank (1990)
- PROP 9 - Chumbawamba, First Two (1992) (compilation of Pictures of Starving Children Sell RecordsPictures of Starving Children Sell RecordsPictures of Starving Children Sell Records was the first full-length album by anarcho-punk band Chumbawamba, released in 1986 on Agit-Prop Records...
and Never Mind the BallotsNever Mind the BallotsNever Mind the Ballots is an album by Anarchist punk band Chumbawamba. Most of the songs centre around lying politicians and their search for more voter control...
) - PROP 11 - Chumbawamba, ShhhShhhShhh is a 1992 album by anarchist punk band Chumbawamba. It was originally recorded and written as "Jesus H. Christ," an album that relied heavily on samples. A number of the musicians whose material had been sampled objected, and the album was largely re-worked to defend artistic intent and...
(1992) - PROP 12 - Papa Brittle, Obey, Consume, Marry And Reproduce (1992)
See also
- List of record labels
- Independent record labels
- peace punk